This archive report was first published on 18 September 2019.
Published on September 18, 2019, a Kakamega father's 20-year sentence for defiling his 15-year-old daughter during a 'virginity test' was reduced to 15 years by the High Court.
The father, who was convicted of defiling his daughter, had appealed the sentence at the High Court.
Justice Hedwig Ong'udi delivered the ruling, stating that the prosecution had proved the case of defilement beyond doubt.
The judge noted that the girl, a Form Two student, would forever relive the bad memories of the shameful act committed by her father, who was someone she had trusted most.
Justice Ong'udi also stated that the girl had suffered psychological trauma from the acts of her father.
However, she decided to reduce the sentence on the grounds that the accused was his family's sole breadwinner.
The court was told that the girl had been sent home for school fees when her father approached her to find out why she was not in school.
At the time, the girl was living with her father and stepmother after her mother had passed away.
The accused asked his daughter to bring him some water, and she then left to go to her room to change from her school uniform.
As she was undressing, her father came into the room and insisted that he needed to check and confirm that she was a virgin.
She attempted to resist his advances but was overpowered and was too scared to raise alarm.
The accused warned her not to tell anyone about the ordeal after he sexually assaulted her.
